Caster mechanism for stands and the like



March 21, 1933. E C. HARTER 1,992,166

CASTER vMECHANISM FOR STANDS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 13, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 21, 1933. E. c. HART-ER I CASTER MECHANISM FOR STANDS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. l5, '1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m fm I 'l5/Mfr@ Patented Mar. 21, 1933 EVAN C. IEIARLIEEB?f,` F STURGIS; MICHIGAN' I' cnsriin MECHANISM ron. sre'nns vum man LIKE .Y

. Application inea jnovemtier'. is, i930. serial No. 495,351.

This invention relates to improvements in caster mechanism for stands andthe like and it consists of the matters hereinafter def scribed and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a mechanism associated generally with the two front legs of the stand whereby the associated casters may be moved into and.

out of engagement with the floorv so that the stand may be easily movedv from one place of use to another upon all of the casterslof the stand, when so desired. l Y

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of this kind which may be foot actuatedwithoutstooping and which includes a lever and toggle like arrangement, the links being so formed as to automatically lock in one limit of movement tol hold the casters in that position wherein theyare en-` gagedwith the floor. f

These objects of the invention as wellas others,` together with the many advantages thereof, willmore fullyappear as Iproceed with my specification.

In the drawings Figui is a perspective view of an Voiifice machine stand embodying the preferred form of my improved caster mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a view inside elevation on an enlarged scale of the bottom end of onel of the front legs of the stand, with the associated caster engaged with the floor.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 vwith `the parts in changed relation wherebytlie associated caster is out of engagement with the floor. y

Fig. et is a horizontal sectional view through the same as taken on the line 4 4; of Fig.,2,.and n Y Fig. 5 is a detail sectional Iview as taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Y In general the stand in which my improved caster mechanism is embodied, comprises twoAV side frames each including a front and a rear leg tied together near their bottom ends by a bar, the bars of both frames being connected together by a cross bar and the top ends ofy all ofthe legs being lixed in and connected to theframe upon which the desired oiiice ma- K vlchineissupported.A The bottom ends of all" i of the legs -are bent to extend radially with respect to the axis of the frame and the bot-` tom extremity of each'rear leg has a caster while-the bottom extremity of each front'leg 55K carriesV a rubber or like tip. n

Associated with the bottom end of each front legis-a caster mechanism including a lever pivoted to the leg and a toggle link arv rangement ypivoted lat v,one end to said lever 50 and at the other endv to said leg above the levers. Vhen foot pressure is imposed upon the mid portion'of said toggle link arrangement, the lever is swung downwardly to forcibly engage the caster with the floor and thus l 65.'

elevate the leg end extremity tip, off the floor so that the 'stand as a whole may be easily moved about froml one place of use-to another on the casters;

n A liftingmovement imparted to saidmid 76 l portion of the toggle link arrangement,

breaks the toggle andy lifts the `vassociated caster olf the floor and engages the associated extremity tip therewith whereby accidental movement orshifting ofthe stand is L quite impossible.

AReferring now in detail tothat embodi-f" ment vof the nventionillustrated in the draw#V Y l ings z-l indicates as a wholean oflice ma` chine stand comprising side frames each Yin- 'so cluding an upright front leg 2 and an upright'rearleg 3 connected together near their bottom ends by a tie baror rail 4. The rails of both frames areconnected yby a cross bar 5 and the'top ends of the legs of both frames '85 areal-l. fixed inl the several corners of a frame made; to receive and support v,theV oliice ma- Y chine for which the stand was intended.

` The extremeY bottom end part 7 of each rear leg is offset outwardly from and is connected I to the main 'part of Vsaid leg by an outwardly anddownwardly inclined part 8 and said'extreme bottom end part is provided with a swivelingcaster 7% The extreme bottomV end partr9 of each front legis likewise oif- 95 set; outwardly from and is connected to the n main part of said lleg by an outwardly and downwardly inclinedV part .10iv and said exfy treme bottomiend part is provided with a friction or -rubber tip V1l. The bottom end 10U" f y said arms being connected together by `a "'so desired. I

crotch or junction 14. Secured in'said crotch or junction is an upright tubular stem 15 in which is journalled in any suitable manner,

the pintle of a swiveling caster frame 16kk carrying a caster wheel16a; f

The bifurcated lever has pivoted thereto at 17 one end of a toggle link 18 which is piv- )oted at its other end as at19 to one end of an associated toggle link 20. The other end of this link 2O is formed to, embrace and is pivoted as at 21 to main part of the leg 2 above that inclined part 10 thereof asbest shown .:in Fig. 2.

Preferably each toggle link is made of a U-shaped cross section comprising side walls or anges 22 and a rounded connecting web 28. That end of the link 20 pivoted as at 19 tothe link 18 embraces the same to limit the movement of the links in one direction.v The pivot 19 which is an ordinary pin or rivet is provided at one end with a head 0r extensionv 19:L to be engaged by the operators foot when Foot pressure upon the toggle links 18 and V20 in the vicinity lof the pivot 19, will cause said links to be extended or brought into and through end to end alignment vand this will cause the bifurcated lever or-armto be swung downwardly about its pivot land'will forcefully engage the caster 16a withthe floor which will lift or raise the leg tip 11 oif the floor. It is pointed out that this foot ypreslsure upon said links in the` vicinity of the pivot 19, will cause said pivot to pass through and beyond a plane passing through the Ypivif ots 17 and 21 and which plane is indicated by the dotted line 24 in Fig. 2. -iThe Yparts "are so proportioned that in the movement of said links in this direction,- the engagej ment ofthe embracing end of the link 2O with theend of the link 18 will `limit said movement just after the pivot 19 passes through the plane before mentioned. Y

Thus said links are locked together and the weight of the supported machine cannot spring the links into their folded position but on the contrary, act to make this locking of the toggle links, more secure.

Vith the caster 16a in this position, the stand as a whole may be easily shifted about` from one place of use to another upon all ofthe casters. Vhen the Vdesired place vof the toe of the shoe und-er the button or eitension 19a and lifts the same upwardly. This will swing the pivot 19 through and beyond the plane indicated by said line 24 and at the same time will swing the bifurcated lever upwardly so that the caster likewise moves upwardly and the leg extremity tip moves down into yengagement with the iioor. Slight further upward movement `on the button or extension 191 will cause the links to fold' intojthe position vshown in Fig. 3 which effectively clears the caster from the floor. It is pointed out that these various pivots mentionedv are relatively stiff and hold the parts in this 'position until again actuated.

n Thus with the parts in this last mentioned position, t-o .bring the casterinto engagement with the floor it is only necessary to impose foot pressure on the toggle link in the vicinity of the pivot 19.

The parts are relatively few in number and maybe easily assembled and are so p0- sitioned upon the associated leg as to be outof the way when not in use for their intended purpose. The mechanism may be operated by the foot and'this eliminates stooping.

While in describing the invention I have referred in detail to the form, arrangement and construction of the parts thereof, the same is to be considered merely as illustrative so that I do not wish to be limited thereto exceptas may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I cla-iin as my invention 1. In combination'with a" stand leg having an offset bottom end adapted for friction engagement upon a Hoor, a swiveling caster, means pivoted at one end-to sai-d offset bottom end of the leg and carryingsaid caster at the other end, and toggle links pivoted to said piv-oted means and to said leg above said bottom en-d and which links are pivoted together, said links being operable to be moved into substantial alignment to swing said pivoted means to engage said caster with the Hoor, and to automatically lock 'against re. verser movement when so moved into sub-` stantial alignment.y c,

2. In combination with a stand leghaving an offset bottom Vend adapted for frictionv engagement upon a floor, a swiveling caster, means pivoted at one end to said offset bottom end of the leg and carrying said caster at the other end, links pivoted to said pivoted means and to said leg'above said bottomfend and which links are pivotedtogether,y and means associated with' said links where so pivoted together and adapted to be foot operated to move vsaid links into substantial alignment and to so swing said pivote-d means as toV engage said caster with said floor,said

links being so formed -as t0 automatically lock against reverse movement when so movedinto said substantial alignment.

3. In combination with al stand leg having iis an oset bottom end adapted for engagement upon a floor, a bifurcated lever pivoted at one end to said offset bottom end ofthe leg, a caster connected to the other end of said lever, a link of channel like cross section pivoted at one end to said lever, a second link of channel like cross section pivoted at one end to said leg above said offset bottom end, and means for pivoting the other ends of both links together, said last mentioned means when said links aremoved into substantial alignment being capable of being moved through and to one side of -a plane extending between the pivotal points of said links With said lever and leg respectively.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my han-cl, this 10th day of November, 1930. EVAN C. HARTER. 

